In response to the Government of Ontario seeking international proposals to redevelop Ontario Place, the World Monuments Fund (WMF), John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto (Daniels Faculty), and Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) have formed a coalition to protect the legacy of the Toronto landmark.
The Future of Ontario Place Project is an initiative that aims to safeguard the site’s landscape and built heritage from the threat of demolition and privatization. To foster broader public recognition, the coalition has launched the plan through a web portal and social media campaign.
The website is the first consolidated public resource on Ontario Place, and includes archival images, stories, and information from the general public. It also features interviews with architects and urbanists about the significance of the development.
With a mission to influence the government’s decision to redevelop the site, and create a more open and productive dialogue between stakeholders, the project will additionally host a series of live debates on the current issues facing Ontario Place, facilitate an extensive letter writing campaign, and host a Canada-wide design challenge calling for alternative proposals for the site’s future.
“The Future of Ontario Place Project will gather and study the history, evolution and possible futures of Ontario Place. By highlighting the rich multi-layered narrative of this unique development, and by sharing stories about the public’s relationship and connection to Ontario Place, we are hoping to secure its protection and longevity,” says Aziza Chaouni, Associate Professor at the Daniels Faculty.
Ontario Place was commissioned in 1969 by the Ontario Department of Trade and Development as a showplace for the province’s identity and culture. When it opened in 1971, Ontario Place served as a symbol of post-war prosperity, showcasing the province’s rapid economic growth and urbanization.
Designed by architect Eberhard Zeidler and landscape architect Michael Hough, the comprehensive 63 hectare site comprises a series of artificial islands and lagoons along Toronto’s waterfront, weaving architecture and landscape into an integrated environment for entertainment, education and recreation.
By 2012, steadily decreasing revenues led the provincial government to close large portions of the site. Subsequently, in 2019, the provincial government launched a global call for developers to submit proposals to “comprehensively develop and reinvent the site,” opening up the possibility of privatization, reinvention and demolition. As such, Ontario Place has been included on the “World Monuments Fund 2020 Watch”, a biennial selection of at-risk cultural heritage sites that combine great historical significance with contemporary social impact.
According to Bénédicte de Montlaur, WMF President and CEO, “We are proud to support this important project for Ontario Place — a significant cultural heritage site included on the 2020 World Monuments Watch. We hope that this campaign will bring international attention to the challenges facing modern architecture, such as neglect, deterioration, and demolition, and demonstrate the tremendous benefits that the preservation of sites like Ontario Place can offer local communities.”
Kae Elgie, Chair of Architectural Conservancy Ontario said, “ACO is delighted to collaborate in this initiative to expand public awareness of Ontario Place as a globally important work of 20th century architecture and landscape design. It is critically important to protect this iconic site for the benefit of diverse population groups in Ontario and beyond.”
The Future of Ontario Place Project calls on the public and community of architects, urbanists, and city builders to join the initiative in advocating for the protection of Ontario Place. Visit www.futureofontarioplace.org for more information.